My emotions were tangled, and I lacked the energy to pinpoint who was to blame.
My sole focus was on finding Abby quickly.
âDonât worry.
I will contact the Thorn Edge Pack immediately and spare no effort to locate our child,â Caleb said, draping his arm around my shoulders.
I nodded and stole a glance at him.
When I did, a sudden twinge in my nose compelled me to confess, âIâm sorry.
Itâs my fault.
I failed to protect our baby.
â
Caleb released a heavy sigh, his tone soothing as he sought to alleviate my guilt.
âThis isnât your burden.
The fault lies with me.
If I hadnât been the reason for your disappearance, Abby wouldnât have suffered so much since her birth.
â
Tears streamed down my face anew.
The memories of what Abby and I endured after joining the witch clan overwhelmed me, and I found myself sobbing once more.
Driven by a desire to intimidate those who had taken Abby, Caleb acted swiftly.
He issued a bold public statement online, affirming Abby as his own and warning that anyone threatening his daughter would contend with the full force of the Thorn Edge Pack.
As Calebâs announcement surged to the forefront of every search engine, a lingering anxiety surfaced.
âWhat if someone pretends to have Abby to coerce you into meeting some exorbitant demands? Youâre making this too public.
â
Caleb appeared unbothered by my fears.
âThe aim is visibility, to show weâre vigilant.
The more I highlight our childâs situation, the more the abductor will hesitate to cross the Thorn Edge Pack and harm her.
â
He paused, then concluded, âThe only thing that matters is our childâs safety.
Iâll accept any terms they propose, as long as she remains unharmed.
â
Debraâs POV:
Hearing Calebâs words left me both touched and saddened.
I was touched because Caleb showed how deeply he cared for the child.
It saddened me because Abby was kidnapped before she could experience the love of her father who cherished her so much.
With a heavy heart and concern in my voice, I said, âBut what could the person who took the baby possibly want? Are they trying to threaten us or Andrew?â
Caleb shook his head, answering, âI donât believe thatâs the case.
The child has been missing for quite some time, and weâve received no demands or threats.
This suggests the kidnapper might have a different motive.
â
Feeling increasingly irritated by the silence, I grew more anxious.
Glancing at Andrew, who was seated on a nearby sofa, Caleb asked, âDo you suspect anyone?â
Caught off guard, Andrew replied with displeasure, âWhat are you implying?â
Feeling a bit awkward, Caleb quickly clarified, âPlease, donât take it the wrong way.
Iâm not accusing you.
Iâm just wondering if thereâs anyone in the witch clan who you think might have taken the baby.
â
After collecting his thoughts, Andrew frowned and speculated, âIt could be Veronica.
Or maybe Addy, Veronicaâs assistant.
She once poisoned Debra.
â
Alert and cautious, I realized I didnât have any close ties or adversaries within the witch clan, except for Shirley who considered me a problem.
It appeared that Veronica and her assistant were prime suspects.
My anger reached its peak, and I found myself clenching my fists tightly.
For the first time, I realized just how bothersome Shirley, an irrational, paranoid woman obsessed with Andrew, truly was.